Reuters reported that the piano on which John Lennon composed "Imagine" sold at an auction for 1.45 million pounds ($2.08 million.)

Dr. Dre's and Metallica's lawsuits against Napster will be heard by Judge Marilyn Patel, the same judge who imposed an injunction against it in its legal battle with the record industry, according to CNet.

Sammy Hagar [ tickets ] is scheduled to perform on CBS' "The NFL Today" on Sunday (10/22) at noon Eastern Time.

The New York Post reported that Beyonce Knowles of Destiny's Child [ tickets ] has signed a $1.5 million solo recording deal, but according to SonicNet, Destiny Child's label Columbia Records is denying that report.

According to Znet.com, the Secure Digital Music Initiative, a music industry consortium, is denying reports that hackers successfully breached six of its recently designed security technologies.

Radio trade magazine the Gavin Report has announced that its final Americana chart ran in its Oct. 13 issue. The Americana Music Association is currently seeking a new home for the chart, which tracks the airplay of generally airplay-starved alternative country acts like Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris and Lucinda Williams.

From Mary Jo DiLonardo's positive review of Billy Ray Cyrus [ tickets ]' new album "Southern Rain" on CNN.com:

The question is whether Cyrus will ever get a chance to be heard. Mention his name and few people can recall anything but that incessant "Don't tell my heart, my achy-breaky heart ..."

Could a double standard be at play here? How come Shania Twain can continue churning out mindless bubble-gum country while swiveling her hips and doing funky things to her hair with few ill consequences? Why can't people forgive Billy Ray for his achy-breaky heart and let him prove there's at least a dollop of substance under that chiseled physique?